Coin-actuated machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M. HUNTER. 00m AOTUATED MACHINE.

No. 480,018. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. M. HUNTER.

COIN AGTUATBD MAGHINE.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

B N m R EM N M m M .U MM .A N I 0 G Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

Wms wiy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES M. HUNTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-ACTUATED MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,018, dated August 2, 1892 Application filed May 19, 1892. Serial No. 433,539- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to make a coin-actuated machine in which matches or other articles may be stored for sale and which may be procured upon droppinga coin of the determined denomination into the appropriate slot; and my invention consists in the features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective elevation showing my complete machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the machine on line 2 of Fig. 1,looking in the direc tion of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine with the top removed and part of the cover of the base broken away; Fig. 4, enlarged elevations of the coin-trippin g mechanism, and Figs. 5 and 6 are details of some of the parts, as hereinafter explained.

In making my improved coin'actuated machine I makeitof two main portionsthe top and the base. The top is preferably made of a cylindrical turret form, and the base is preferably made in the shape of an oblong box.

The turret or magazine A,in which the boxes of matches or other articles intended forsale are contained, is divided into a number of compartments A, as many as desired, to contain the matches or other articles. These compartments are preferablyinclosed in glass or other transparent substance, so that the articles contained in them will be exposed to view. Between the storage chambers are spaces A which are preferably rounded to display advertising-matter on them, as shown in Fig. 2. The turret or magazine is mounted on a base B, so as to be rotatable thereon.

To secure the rotation of the turret, I mount on the base a vertical shaft B',intended to be fixed or non-rotatable, and preferably at the top of this shaft I arrange a spring B This spring is preferably made of ordinary clockspring steel with one of its ends fixed or secured to the shaft and the other fixed or secured to the turret. By rotating the turret in the right direction the spring can be wound up, so as to have sullicient tension to rotate the turret when it is released.

A discharge chute or way 0 is arranged in preferably an inclined direction leading from the top of the base at one end. This chute or way has its upper end in proper position to receive the box of matches or other article as the same is discharged from the turret, so that it will slide down and be delivered to the customer on the outside. The base is preferably made of two parts hinged together, so that the upper portion may be turned back from the lower when unlocked to admit of access to the interior of the base to remove the coins collected therein or to inspect or repair the operative mechanism of the machine.

Arranged on the top of the base is a slot Z), of a size adapted to receive a penny or other coin of the denomination determined upon as the price of the articles to be sold. Leading from this slot is an inclined coin chute or way D, down which the coin runs. The lower end of the coin chute or way is contained in the base, so that as the coin is discharged from it it will fall into the compartment in the base adapted to receive it.

At the lower end of the coin-chute is arranged a pivoted latch E, closing the exit of the coin-chute. This pivoted latch is provided with a weight 6 at one end of sufficient gravity to hold the latch in position to close the end of the way until the weight of a coin of a determined denomination bears the latch down, so as to lift its weighted end. The free end of the latch is provided with a hook or upturned end 6, which engages with a tooth 011 the bottom of the coin-chute until the weight of the coin has borne the latch down so as to disengage it. The latch E is pivoted upon an upright bar F, that has its upper end attached to a horizontal bar F. This horizontal bar is arranged just beneath the top of the base and is provided at one end with a spring F and at the other end with a handle or knob F which extends outside of the base to be within easy reach of the customer. \Vhen a coin has been dropped into the slot and run down the way and rests upon the latch E, so as to bear it down, its hook e is disengaged from the tooth 6 so that the horizontal bar, with the vertical bar and the latch, may be drawn forward, exposing the lower end of the coinway, so that the coin may be dropped into the base or receptacle to receive it. At one side of the bar F and preferably on a lateral extension of such bar is pivoted a discharge-finger G, that has its upper end in position to engage with the lower box of matches or article to be sold and draw it forward from the storage-chamber of the turret and deliver it into the deliverychute C as the bar is drawn forward. To prevent this finger from being thrown too far back and to hold it to its work as the bar is drawn forward, a pin g is mounted on it which engages witha suitable stop and holds the linger in its dischargingposition, as shown byfull lines in Fig. 4. Just before the bar F reaches its extreme position a lug g on the dischargefinger strikes a suitable stop g to throw its upper end forward to put it into a returning position, so that it can be returned free of the article above it, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. at. T0 preventit from falling too far forward after it has discharged the article, a pin g is mounted on it, which engages with a suitable stop to hold it in its returning position. (Shown by dottedlines in Fig. a.) Just as the bar F is reachingitsinitial position the lug g strikes a suitable stop g to throw it into its upright or operative position. \Vhen the bar F is drawn forward by the handle, the finger moves the article to be sold forward and delivers it into the discharge-chute C. This operation extends the spring F so that as soon as the handle is released thebar carrying the discharge-finger G is drawn back into its initial position ready for another operation. To prevent more than one article from being discharged by the introduction of a single coin, it is important that the bar F and the discharge-finger should be returned fully to theirinitial position and be incapable of being again drawn forward to discharge a second article until they have thus been fully returned. To insure this, I arrange a notch H in the bottom of the coin-chute, into which the hook e is lifted by the weighted end of the latch before the finger has reached its ini tial position or is capable of again engaging with it and advancing another article. This will be understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 4, where these parts are shown. If it should be attempted to draw the bar again forward, the hook of the latch, resting in the notch H, would prevent. The rear side of the notch H and the rear side of the hook are beveled to a sufficient degree to permit the hook to be pushed on back beyond the notch H until it is lifted by the weighted end behind the tooth 6 at which time the bar F and the dischargefinger G are in their initial positions. The bar, however, cannot be drawn forward after it has reached this position and the hook has engaged with the tooth until another coin has been introduced into the slot, so as to repeat the operation. To insure the proper return of the latch after it has been drawn out, I provide a forward extension a on the discharge end of the coin-chute and bevel it somewhat, so that the latch will always be guided back into its proper position after it has been drawn forward.

In order that the turret or storage-battery may be prevented from turning until after the box of matches or other article has been delivered into the discharge-chute O, I provide the turret with a number of lugs l, corresponding in number to its storage chambers or compartments. These lugs rest against a pawl 1. (Shown particularly in Figs. 2, 5, and 6.) This pawl is pivoted at its upper end and provided with a weighted lower portion, which holds its upper end in the path of the lugs, extending from the base of the turret. A spring J is mounted on the sliding bar F, so asto be drawn forward with it. This spring is provided with a latch or lug j, which is lifted behind the outer end of the pawll byan inclined guide J, so that when the bar is fully drawn up the lug or latch j will engage with the outer edge of the lower portion of the pawl I. \Vhen the spring F draws the bar F, with the spring J, back to its initial position, the latch or lugj tips the pawl l on its pivot, so as to leave it out of the path of the lug on the bottom of the turret, thus permitting the coiled spring B to rotate or move the turret around. The instant, however, that the lug or latch j has passed the pawl I it drops back into its initial position and in time to engage the next lug on the turret, so as to permit it to rotate simply to the extent of one storage compartment or chamber, which insures the proper location of such chamber in relation to the discharge-chute for the delivery of another article. To cover the pawl I and to operate, also, as a stop to prevent it from being thrown back by the latch or lug on the spring J too far to enable to restore itself in time, I arrange a shield K over it, which serves both to protectit and to prevent its being oscillated too far on its pivot.

To sound a signal whenever a coin has been dropped into the machine and an article extracted, I arrange a bell L, preferably in the base, and a hammer L, adapted to be drawn forward as the bar F is drawn out. To secure this, I prefer to mount this hammer on the upright bar F. The hammer is also preferably mounted at the end of a flexible or spring bar L which, as it is drawn forward, its notched portion engages with a pin Zto hold it back enough to cause it, when released, to strike forward with sufficient force to insure the sounding of the signal. As the parts are retracted to their initial position the hammer moves forward with them in position to be again drawn forward at the next operation of the machine.

I have thus described the construction and operation of my coin-actuated machine with considerable detail; but I desire it to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction, location, or arrangement of the parts shown and described, as it is obvious that they are susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the essential features of my invention.

'What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In coin-actuated machines, the combination of a rotatable turret provided with storage-compartments, a spring for rotating the turret for bringing the storage-compartments successively into relation to a point of discharge, coin-actuated mechanism for releasing the discharging mechanism, and discharging mechanism for forcing out the desired article, substantially as described.

2. In coin-actuated machines, the combination of a rotatable turret provided with storage-compartments, a spring for rotating the turret for bringing the storage-compartments successively into relation to a point of discharge, means for holding the turret from rotating until after the discharge of an article, coin-actuated mechanism for releasing the discharging mechanism, and discharging mechanism for forcing out the desired article, substantially as described.

3. In coin-actuated machines, the combination of an article-storage compartment, coinactuated mechanism for releasing the discharge mechanism, discharge mechanism comprising a longitudinally-movable bar, a pivoted discharge-finger advancing with said bar in an erect position, and means for tripping said finger at the limit of its advanced movement, substantially as described.

4. In coin-actuated machines, the combination of an article-storage compartment, coinactuated mechanism for releasing the discharge mechanism, discharge mechanism comprising a longitudinally-movablc bar, a pivoted discharge-finger, means for tripping it into its two positions, and a balanced latch closing the end of the coin-chute, the coinchute provided with a hook, notch, and beveled corners, substantially as described.

5. In coin-actuated machines, the combination of a coin-chute, a latch closing the discharge end of the chute and locked to pre vent it from being moved away from the end of the chute until unlocked by a coin, means for moving the latch away from the end of the chute when unlocked and at the same time advancing the discharge mechanism of the machine, and means for locking the latch and discharge mechanism against a second advance until they have been returned to their initial position, substantially as described.

6. In coin-actuated machines, the combination of the draw-bar F, the flexible springbar J, with its latch j attached to and moving longitudinally with the draw-bar, the inclined guide J, arranged to throw the spring-bar into position for operating the turret-pawl, the pawl I and lugs I for holding the turret in such position that its storage-compartments are in line with the discharge-opening, and the shield K for covering and limiting the motions of the pawl I, substantially as described.

7. In coin-actuated machines, the combination of the draw-bar F, the discharge-finger G, attached thereto, and its lug g moving with the draw-bar, and the stops g 9'', arranged to trip the discharge-finger into two positions, substantially as described.

8. In coin-actuated machines, the combination of the draw-bar, the discharge-finger G and its lug 9 attached thereto and moving with said bar, the stops 9 g for tripping the discharge-finger into its two positions, the vertical post F, attached to the draw-bar and carrying the balanced latch E at its lower end, the coin-chute D, with the hook e at its lower end for locking the discharge mechanism in its initial position, the safety-notchI-I, located in the lower end to prevent the discharge mechanism from being moved forward until it has been returned to its initial position, and the beveled lower end a for guiding the balanced latch, substantially as described.

9. In coin-actuated machines, the combination of the draw-bar F and the discharging mechanism attached thereto, the vertical post F, attached to and moving with said bar, the flexible spring-bar L with its weighted end L attached to the post F, the post Z for tripping the spring-bar L and the bell L, substantially as described.

JAMES M. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. F. SHENDAN, SAMUEL E. HIBBEN. 

